On Friday evening, September 29 (9th Tishrei), the Jews of the world begin to celebrate Yom Kippur, the most important and solemn holiday of the Jewish calendar, also called the "Judgment Day" and the "Day of Remission of Sins."
On the eve of this day, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar addressed the Jewish community:
"Dear friends!
Yom Kippur, "The Day of Repentance" is the holiest day in our calendar. On this day, Gd signs and seals the sentence to each of us for the coming year. We thank Him for giving us a new chance, the opportunity to correct the mistakes made, to perform "teshuvah" - that is, literally, "return to Gd"!
It is clear that during the time of Yom Kippur we pray and promise that we will not sin any more, we will lead a righteous life, we will keep the commandments ... But is it possible for a person to completely change his whole life in one day? Some people believe that they can really change everything at once. But, with all due respect to this kind of maximalism, there is a serious problem. In life, there are many external circumstances that prevent us from dramatically changing everything around us. And our forces are not unlimited: if you set yourself too high a bar, there is a big risk that in a day, a week or a month you can not keep this bar.
So what is the repentance of Yom Kippur in this case? What is the true "teshuvah"? Here we must again turn to the meaning of this word - "return". A person committing mistakes in life moves away from the right road. Accordingly, the first step to returning to this road is to realize that you are lost, gone and lost. And that you know where the right path, the path of the Torah and the commandments. If a person in Yom Kippur gives himself a pledge to observe at least one commandment more - this is the beginning of "teshuvah"!
It may seem that this is not enough. But do not forget that Gd is not just our Gd, our lord, He is primarily our heavenly Father. And the father treats his children with love. And if he sees that his child shows a readiness to become better, to make at least one step in the way of correction - he sees in it a good sign, an interest to return home. After all, the first step in the right direction inevitably follows one more step, every good deed entails new good deeds, each fulfilled command leads to the fulfillment of other commandments.
Our sages have repeatedly stressed that "teshuvah" is not a one-off action, it's a process that takes a lifetime. Each path consists of many steps: the main thing is to determine the right direction. We are unlikely to reach perfection, because one Gd is perfect: but every step on the path of return, in the way of teshuva, we show Him our faith, our love, our readiness to serve Him and to do His will.
I wish you all on this holy day to take a new step in the path of the Torah, the commandments and good deeds. I wish you never to stop at what has been achieved, always go forward, rise higher, approaching Gd! ".
